HCM CITY — The HCM City chapter of the Việt Nam Red Cross Society on November 21 organised a ceremony to mark the charity organisation’s 71st anniversary on November 23 and honour 71 philanthropists.

At the event the organisation received 57,000 gifts given by people for donating to disadvantaged people during Tết (Lunar New Year) and 1,000 medical insurance cards.

It handed over the Certificate of Merit from the Government to two organisations and seven individuals for their contributions to charity in the city this year.

Besides, Hồng Thế Chân, deputy head of Ôn Lăng Pagoda’s charity board received the Labour Medal, third class, at the ceremony.

Nguyễn Hoàng Ân, deputy chairman of the HCM City chapter, said in 2011-16 the Red Cross had done charity worth VNĐ1.46 trillion (US$63.9 million) in the city, helping 1.2-1.4 million poor people each year.

The society was founded on November 23, 1946, by President Hồ Chí Minh, who was also its honourary president until his death in 1969.

In 1957 it was recognised as a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

According to Nguyễn Thị Xuân Thu, its chairwoman, in the last five years the association has raised VNĐ460 billion (more than $20 million) to provide relief in disaster-hit areas, provided free health examination and treatment for 1.4 million needy people, and has donated around 21,600 cows to poor families. —VNS